I am fretting about my pregnancy because of my age. (37)

[stottiecake]

Can anyone reassure me?
Have been reading up on risks (silly me) and I'm now convinced this pregnancy is doomed.
I'm 37 btw.
I'm only just pregnant.
Argh. Can anyone tell me anything positive just to stop the anxiety?
I know it won't stop anything dreadful from happening but at least it might stop me from fretting!

TIA

[DancingCat]

Don't worry stottiecake, I'm 39, have other health issues (pre-existing diabetes and antiphospholipid syndrome) too, and am currently 29 weeks pregnant, all going well. All the medical intervention irritates me (due to the other issues, not my age), but our baby is oblivious to it all and spends much of his time kicking the hell out of me. My specialists aren't at all concerned about my age. There are loads more of us, ahem, more mature ladies, having babies these days. Just try to enjoy it xx

[stottiecake]

Thanks DancingCat! Congratulations too! So glad all is going well and your getting lots of lovely kicks

[AbiAbi]

Don't worry, 37 isn't old for a pregnancy these days I dont think?

My mum had me at 37 and I'm fine, promise!

[seeker]

I had my first at 37. She's 14 now and rambunctiously healthy!

[slimyak]

I'm with the DancingCat! I'm 38 and currently 29 weeks preganant with DC2.

Try and enjoy it, easier said than done - the curse of the mummy start what ever age you are. You are hard wired to worry about you're little one from as soon as they exist until you leave this mortal coil.

Wishing you an uneventful first 12 weeks (that will probably feel like a lifetime). Congratulations. Oh Yes and stop reading stuff that freaks you out!!

[SparklyJules]

Are you physically fit and healthy? Do you have underlying health problems? If not, you are probably going to be fine. You might be a little more tired than if you were 25 and pregnant.

My aunt had her babies at 40, 42 and 46 and seemed to take it all in her stride!

I had mine at 25 and 29 and was so bloody knackered!

[Smalline]

Please don't worry Stottiecake, I had my first at 39, second at 41, 2 beautiful healthy children who are now 7 & 10, look after yourself, take every day as it comes and enjoy your pregnancy congratulations by the way.

[mollycuddles]

I had dc3 earlier this year 8 days after my 38th birthday. No one was in the least interested in my age and she is extremely healthy. I had no complications and I'm much more relaxed than when I had dc1 at 25. And no more tired now just because I'm older. The pg was tough but mainly because I was puking the whole way through. Step away from google and try to relax.

[JBrd]

Im 38, will be 39 when baby arrives, its my first. I was (and sometimes still am) the same as you, theres a lot of scary information out there linking pregnanycy risks and complcations with age. Im 14 weeks now, had my dating scan last week and everything looks fine! Still waiting for my blood test results to come back, but Im trying to stay relaxed. Sometimes that works better than other times...<br /> A lot of my friends had their babies at my age or even older, and its been really good talking to them, as well as with DH.

I know its easier said than done, but try to enjoy your pregnancy, not spoiling it by worrying to much! I had to accept that yes, I am older and there are more risks, but it just took me this long to realise that I did want children, no way I could have done this any earlier in my life. And were not alone, and still the majority of all babies arrive safe and sound.

Hope that helps.

[Marrow]

Stop reading! There's no need to worry unless you have existing health conditions that might make the pregnancy higher risk. Are you worried about something in particular? I am pregnant and 37 and my age has never crossed my mind. Just try to enjoy your pregnany

[bonnymiffy]

I'm 42 years old, currently 10 weeks ish with my first. I've almost got to the stage where I'm going to stop reading these threads as someone is always worrying about something, and I can't be doing with the stress! I'll be seeing a midwife on Wednesday for the first time, so looking forward to that. I can't think of anything to type that will stop you worrying, I'm a natural worrier as well, and I'm not enjoying feeling crap all the time, but it is a great excuse to eat rubbish alot of the time(cheesy wotsits in my case)!

[Samraves]

Hiya,

I know how you feel - there is just so much information available about risks etc, and how they increase with age. I am 36 (almost) 37 and expecting my first later this month...

So many people are having babies later now - when we feel ready, and most are absolutely fine, and really there is no point in worrying too much unless you find out something from tests. But I still think that we are given too much info...

[skandi1]

I'm 37 now and will be 38 by the time I deliver dc2.

Don't worry too.

With my first I was the youngest in my nct antenatal group by almost 5 years.

I was panicky first time too and at my 12 week scan, I asked lots of questions regarding potential problems. The sonographer wanted to know why I was so worried and I said because of my age. She looked at my notes, raised an eyebrow and said: "but you're still very young" (35 at the time).

[MrsArchchancellorRidcully]

Congratulations and try not to worry (easier said than done I know!).

I was 36 when I had DD and I'm now 38 and TTC No2. Pregnancy was very straight forward for DD. For me it was a bit harder but that's cos I'm quite (who am I kidding, very) overweight and the doctors were far more worried about that than my age. DD came out as healthy as anything.

From what I read, actually conceiving can get harder and harder with age but once pg, the risks due to age are not that much higher than any other 'normal age' pg.

Enjoy being pg - it will fly by!

[Bue]

Women have been having babies well into their 40s since the dawn of time. Try to put the worries out of your mind and enjoy this time!

[mejon]

Don't worry and stop reading! I was 38 when DD1 was born. I'm now 42 and DD2 is due in 10 or so weeks. No health problems at all in either pregnancy apart from fibroids which didn't/haven't cause(d) any difficulty at all.

[AbiAbi]

Ooh and another thing OP - my mum and I (aged 63 and 26 respectively) are VERY close, we go shopping together once a week at least, get on very well - so dont worry about having a bigger age gap than some parents, it doesnt matter a jot and your child will adore you

[Chynah]

I had #1 when I was 39 and #2 when I was 40 - had brilliant healthy pregnancies and remained very active throughout. Quick recovery from both deliveries (csections by choice) and have two gorgeous children. Relax a bit - I'm sure everthing will be great.

[motherinferior]

I had DD1 at 37 and DD2 at 40!

[Madhouse41]

I'm 40 weeks tomorrow with DC4 and I'm 41. Apart from being fed up now I feel far more relaxed than when I had my other children and much more grownup!!!

[ledkr]

Hi i am 27 wks with my 5th baby and have just turned 44. have been fine so far apart form spd which i had in my early thirties too. I did stop googling tho.

[ilovesprouts]

i had my 3rd dc at 38

[pagwatch]

I had dd at 40. It was my easiest pregnancy and dd is 8 now and gorgeous. Getting worried in pregnancy just goes with the whole territory you will be fine....

[Janus]

Hi Stottiecake, I am 19 weeks pregnant with my fourth and am 40, will be few weeks off 41 when due. Apart from feeling VERY tired at beginning I am now feeling great, better than previous pregnancies. With my 3rd I was 37 when pregnant and I remember mentioning my age to my midwife who declared that of the 4 ladies she had seen that day I was the youngest!! People have babies much later these days and I really don't think there's much to worry about.
Good luck and look after yourself.

[JustDoMyLippyThenWeWillGo]

I was 37 when surprise pregnancy with ds. Was sooo worried to start with so arranged private nuchal scan. The doctor who did it was one of those super confident consultant chappies who told me not to worry, in that super confident way. And, really bizarrely, I stopped worrying there and then, even before results .

Everything was fine, and there are lots of other mummies I met afterwards who are around the same age.

I also had a very easy pregnancy and haven't toatally disintegrated yet. You will be fine